Family Fun Guide to Hammond, Louisiana {60+ Activities for Everyone}

Family Fun Guide to Hammond {60+ Activities for Families In New Orleans}

At the far reaches of the Northshore, the Hammond area is a great place for families outside of New Orleans. For the 10th year in a row, Hammond was awarded the cleanest city in Louisiana and is the state’s 9th largest metropolitan statistical area. With its active downtown, many parks, events, and businesses, it’s easy to see why people are having fun in Tangi. This welcome guide to the Hammond area showcases over 60 things to do when you’re here.

Featured Attraction :: Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center

The Louisiana Children’s Discover Center (LCDC) is located in the heart of downtown Hammond and is the only open and operating children’s museum in the Northshore area. The LCDC offers several engaging and interactive hands-on exhibits and programs, making it an excellent educational resource for the entire community. Exhibits include a Bubble Zone, mini Middendorf’s, Creation Station, Construction Zone, and many more! The LCDC is a great place for toddlers and children to learn at their own pace and discover new ways to play! Admission is $8 for ages 2 through 59 and $7 for ages 60 and up. The LCDC offers field trip, birthday party, and membership packages. LCDC also has a summer only membership option that is $25 for adults and $35 for children (valid from May 28th- September 2nd) To learn more about the Louisiana Children’s Discover Center, call (985) 340-9150, visit www.lcdcofhammond.org, or drop by the center at 113 N. Cypress St. in Hammond!

Family Fun Outside of New Orleans

TangiLanes – Bowling alley and arcade. Participates in Kids Bowl Free, a sign-up summer program where kids can get 2 free games a day, only need to pay for the shoe rental.

Louisiana Children’s Discovery Center – As mentioned above, this is a children’s museum built around play. The bubble area and mini Middendorf’s are favorites. $8 (Ages 2-59); $7 (Ages 60+) Great membership packages including discounts for employees in the following categories: Law Enforcement and Military, Tangipahoa Parish School System employees, Entergy employees, Smitty’s Supply employees, Southeastern Louisiana University Faculty, Staff, or Students.

The Party Barn– Arcade, escape room, paint ball, mini golf, batting cages, party room rentals and seasonal attractions. There is also a free with any purchase indoor play area called the Play Loft. Price is based on the attraction you choose.

Activities at Hammond Square Mall – The Hammond Square shopping center offers various events through the year such as an Easter egg hunt, Santa, trick or treating, and family days with carnival games.

Summer readingat the Tangi libraries – A program nearly every day of the week at every branch. Adult, teenage, and homeschool book clubs, presentations, music, animals, prizes, story times, movies, and game days.

Especially for Babies and Tots

Baby Pelicansat Cypress Pointe Gymnastics – Babies can enroll once they are walking. This class goes through 24 months. The children learn basic gymnastics on small scale equipment.

Paint and Play at The Big Red Barn – For ages 3 and up, this mother’s morning out program from 9 am-12 pm features art, music, and movement on Mondays.

Storytimes and Kids’ Nights

Chick-Fil-A Kid’s Night – Watch their Facebook page to keep up with these themed family nights on select Tuesdays from 5-7. They also host Mother and Son and Father and Daughter date nights.

Hammond Library – On Tuesdays at 10:30 (ages 3-5) and Wednesdays at 4:30 (ages 7-12), storytime at the Hammond Branch includes songs, books, a craft, and often a snack. There’s also homeschool programs on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Ponchatoula Library – Thursdays* at 10:30, storytime at the Ponchy Branch includes songs, games, books, a craft, and a short video. There’s also homeschool and school-age programs throughout the week. During summer reading, the day and time may change.

Starry Night Stuffed Animal Party:Bring your favorite stuffed animal to the Tangi library at 4:00 pm in Amite for a “sleepover”! Wear your pjs for our story time, leave your stuffed animal at the library over-night and come back the next morning to see what kind of shennanigans they’ve gotten into!

Theatre, Gymnastics, Dance, Karate and Art

The Octavians – This children’s theater group offers workshops, camps, and pizza and play nights where school-age children explore their imaginations and put on stage productions.

Columbia Theatre– In addition to hosting The Nutcracker annually, the Columbia Theatre brings in some kid-friendly theatre performances such as the Missoula Children’s Theatre. They’re also doing a movie series.

Dance studios – There are too many to name, but it should be noted that several offer classes for children starting at ages 2 and up and have classes just for boys. Ballet, tap, and hip hop are popular.

Painting with a Twist– In addition to adults BYOB classes, this studio also offers kid classes and camps for ages 5-12.

The Big Red Barn – Creative Arts Center that offers activities, classes, and events for children of all ages.

Mommy & Me Barre Class – Thursday, June 20th at 4 pm. Ages 3 and up. Wear a leotard or workout attire and bring a yoga mat and a bottle of water for this fun class at Spoga Fitness Center. FREE for all members & their dancers. Guests are welcome for $12 per Mommy & Me group.

Seahorses South Louisiana Swim Team – Using pools in Hammond, Metairie, and La Place, this team offers lessons and competitive swimming. Meets locally at North Cypress and Southeastern pools.

Southeastern Louisiana University – Kids and Family

The Community Music School at Southeastern – Professors and students offer music instruction across the Northshore in both private and group lessons. Areas include chamber music, orchestra, guitar, strings, and band camps.

Athletics at Southeastern – Regular-season home events for these sports are free and open to the public: soccer, tennis and volleyball. Tickets are available for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball and softball.

RecKids – Aftercare and summer camp program at Southeastern focuses on homework help, physical fitness, and nutrition for children ages 5-15.

Parades and Fireworks

Strawberry Festival Parade – Line the streets of Ponchatoula to catch many red and pink throws at this large celebration of the strawberry harvest.

Hammond Christmas Parade – Santa rides in this parade from Southeastern’s campus to downtown during this night time parade.

Hammond Mardi Gras Parade – Starts on the Southeastern campus and goes downtown. This night parade is family friendly with a kids zone featuring games and activities in the Pennington Center parking lot.

Festivals and Events

Comics and Cookies Day – National Comic Book Day the Tangilibraries give out cookies and comics in collaboration with some local comic book shops. Each branch has its own activities that may include storytimes and cosplayers.

Hot August Night– Join thousands out at Hammond’s biggest night of the year. Children’s activities, live music, shopping, and food throughout the streets of downtown Hammond. August 23rd from 6-10:30pm.

– Take a step back in time and visit the Village of Albright. Somewhere between a festival and a theme park, this gigantic ren fest offers shows, food, rides, tea parties, wine tastings, and more for 6 weekends in November and December.

Christmas lights at Zemurray Park – Throughout December, the city hosts a large free Christmas light display that you can drive or walk through. On weekends, the train runs for free.

Liuzza Land– Pick pumpkins in the fall or strawberries in the spring. Stop by Pioneer town and take a ride in a horse-drawn wagon, visit the old schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, and general store. Includes a petting area with goats, jumping pillow, hill slide, and more.

Hammond Farmers’ Market – Every Saturday from 8-12, this year-round weekly farmer’s and art market meets by the railroad tracks in downtown Hammond.

Kliebert’s Turtle and Alligator Farm – This farm hosts handicap-accessible walking tours that educate guests of all ages during interactions with exotic reptiles including 57-year-old alligators, 47,000 turtles of various species, and over 300 gators. Groupon often has a deal.

Parks and Splashpads

Chappapeela Sports Park – This sportsplex features 3 playgrounds, paved track, and a shaded splash pad. Has bathrooms and water fountains.

Zemurray Park – New playground equipment, splashpad, skate park, and pavilions. The lake is stocked. Bring corn, duck pellets or oats to feed the ducks under the beautiful Live Oaks.

North Oaks Park – New playground equipment has been added near this splashpad.

North Cypress Family Fitness Center– The splash pad and pool at this gym offer a great way to beat the heat. They also offer Kids Korner, camps, and parent nights out where children have indoor climbing, slides, gaming systems, and more. For children ages 2 months to 14 years, supervised child care is available.

CypressPointeGymnastics – Drop your kids off at CPG’s Kids Night Out every Friday from 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm for open gym, structured games and snacks. Your child does not have to be a student at CPG to participate; anyone is welcome! Snacks and drinks are provided but the coke machine and additional snacks are available for purchase. Ages: 4-12;
$10 per child.

North Cypress Fitness – Each month the Kids Korner staff at North Cypress Fitness offers a Parents’ Night Out where, for an additional fee, kids ages 2 months to 14 years may come for a fun-filled evening with dinner, games, crafts and a movie while their parents go out. $25 for first child/member, additional children are $10; $35 for first child/non-members, additional children are $10.

Resource Centers

Parent Center– Tangi schools offer books, DVDs, and other educational resources for check out at its Parent Center.

Miller Memorial Library Family Resource Center – A part of TADAC, this resource center has over 6000 resources, parent enrichment classes, and activities for school age children.

Did we miss your favorite activity in Hammond? Tell us in the comments.

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